Fightforce was in full effect at the Helena Civic Center in Helena, Montana for their “Helena Havoc” all amateur card Friday night. Eleven fights with two title matches were on the docket as the main event featuring two local heavyweights battling for the belt.

As we reported on Saturday, ICF amateur bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has inked a three fight professional contract with Intense Championship Fighting.

O’Malley won the title and never lost it during his reign. A tipping point came this past week when after an exhausted search, O’Malley faced a really last minute opponent in Brandon Caldwell. O’Malley would take the win by triangle choke.

“Honestly, there just isn’t any competition for him in the amateur ranks anymore, ” ICF President Cory Smith told us. “His training at the MMA lab in Arizona has made him one of the most dangerous 135lb fighters in the country, and after discussion with his Coach John Crouch, Sean said its time. I was hesitant at first because he is so young, but he has proven both in the cage and out that he is ready for the pro ranks.”

Arizona’s MMA Lab, home of former UFC champion Benson Henderson and former InvictaFC champion Lauren Murphy, has been a training home for not only O’Malley, but for fellow Montana fighters Tim Welch and Leo Bercier.

Lead coach John Crouch agreed it was time to go pro, and after the past year with the fight team, O’Malley is prepared for what comes next.

“Being down at the lab Under John Crouch has literally changed me from being just a fighter to a mixed martial artist. I’m 100% a different fighter. If I never went down there , I wouldn’t be were I am now.”

O’Malley looks to fight 5-6 times next year and will make his pro debut at ICF 17 in February.

O’Malley’s amateur bantamweight title is now vacant, and ICF will crown a new champion hopefully in 2015.

Intense Championship Fighting ended a busy 2014 with a solid eight fight card at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, MT.

The main event saw Jared Torgeson successfully defend his middleweight title against Leo Bercier. Both were tentative throughout the fight, not wanting to over commit to a barrage of punches. Torgeson’s harder shots is what made the difference in what was a closely tested bout that saw the Washington fighter get a unanimous decision over Bercier.

It only took Tim Welch 47 seconds to defeat Idaho’s Kerry Lattimer in the co-main event of the card. After Lattimer got a takedown on Welch, the Montana native sunk a deep armbar to finish the fight. He improves to 12-5.

The amateur feature bout saw Sean O’Malley take on last minute replacement Brandon Caldwell in a non-title match. O’Malley looked to have fun in the cage with his striking, trying several times to leap off the cage for flying strikes. Caldwell seemed game, however, with the ability to get the take. Ultimately, O’Malley would work off his back in round 2 to secure a triangle choke to get the submission win.

ICF president Cory Smith announced O’Malley has been signed to a three fight pro contract with the promotion, and his first pro fight will be in February.

The kickboxer turned MMA fighter got a win over Tagina Devereaux at ICF’s all female card this past summer. The fight was a barn-burner and hope is the fireworks continue with Friday’s fight against DJ Morrsion in Great Falls, MT.

We talked to Kampf about her last win, moving camps, and returning to ICF.

MTCage: How did it feel to get your first win?

Hannah Kampf: You know, I’d won in Muay Thai before but MMA is a different game and it felt amazing getting the win in the cage. My first two matches I was flown to Hawaii to compete. I tried my hardest but I didn’t yet have the set of skills I needed to win against those opponents. But dang I wanted to go to Hawaii! The last fight I was finally starting to round out my game and that gave me confidence. I had worked through a lot in that camp including a really painful back injury.. I had so many emotions when they raised my hand and it all paid off. It’s hard to describe really.

MTCage: Did you learn a lot from the fight?

Kampf: I learned how to calm my mind and feel out my opponent a bit. A bigger lesson probably came from the fight before, a pretty tough brawl in Hawaii that landed me with a concussion and broken nose. After that fight I realized I wasn’t going to quit until I was successful in this sport. If that fight didn’t change my mind nothing would.

MTC: You have moved camps from Washington to L.A. How has it been training there?

H.K.: I miss the White Buffalo crew in Seattle, but I have to say the training here has been amazing.. I train Jiu Jitsu at Paragon with Ricardo Franjinha Miller, who is world class and actually just won at Worlds.. I go to Knuckleheadz Boxing & MMA for standup where the owner Hoss has created such an awesome friendly environment.. I’ve been lucky enough to learn from world champ boxer Maureen “The Real Million Dollar Baby” Shea… Also my friend Raul “BigTank” Salinas has been holding mitts for me 3+ times a week this camp, so grateful for his help. I really feel like I’ve made a leap from where I was before. I hope I can show that.

MTC: You have obviously made an impact as ICF asked you back. What will it be like to be back in their cage?

H.K.: Really looking forward to it! Aweome for Corey from ICF to fly me back to my home state to fight again. My mom will be driving up from Bozeman so I’m pretty excited I get to see her while I’m there.

MTC: What do you know about your opponent?

H.K.: I know she’s a boxing veteran with 30+ fights in her name. I think this will be an exciting fight. I’ve been working on my boxing and ground a lot. I’m ready to put it to the test.

MTC: Anything you like to add/thank?

H.K.: I want to thank all the training partners and coaches I may or may not have listed above. ICF for flying me back for this awesome event. My dad, who came to visit me and is always so supportive and inspiring. My mom, who hates it but still shows up when she can and screams her lungs out. My roommate who has gone above and beyond to make everything easy at home, thanks Sera. My boyfriend who loves me even though I occasionally try to choke him in my sleep. My work “Howard’s Rug Company of Ventura” who let me have the time off and have been awesome supports. Oh yeah and Airloop Glove Drying Ring because they help me keep my gloves fresh .

Two stars in Montana MMA will return to action Friday at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls as Intense Chamnpionship Fight will hold it’s last card of the year.

ICF will crown a light heavyweight champion as Montana’s Leo Bercier (13-7) takes on Washington’s Jared Torgeson (12-13 ) in a rematch of their 2012 match. Torgenson won their first outing by TKO.

Tim Welch (11-5), coming off a big win at ICF 15, will look to get another notch on his belt taking on Idaho’s Kerry Lattimer (4-6; 1NC), who is riding a three fight win streak.

In another pro bout on the card, Blake Green will take on Brandon Bailey.

In an amateur title match, Sean O’Malley will defend his bantamweight title against Oregon’s Jake Marshall. O’Malley has two been on a roll with back to back title defences. Marhsall only has one loss and looks to upset the hometown favorite.

Six more matches have been announced include a female bout between Washington’s Hannah Kampf and Denver’s DJ Morrison.

Tickets are available at Van’s IGA, The Sting Sports Bar, and the Four Seasons Arena box office.

Tim Welch rebounded from his loss at Bellator in dramatic fashion Friday night as the “Fight Master” vet got a submission over seasoned vet Ran Weathers at Intense Championship Fighting at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls.

The first round saw Weathers try for a takedown, but Welch would try for a guillotine and rolled to side control. Welch would get a crucifix to land some ground and pound. Weather fought out of it and took half guard. Welch would look for some ground and pound and submissions as the round ended.

Round two saw Welch open up with is striking, and Weathers dropping to a turtle position. Weathers would fight his way back up, but Welch went for another guillotine and sunk it in deep to cause Weathers to pass out to end the fight at 2:18.

Welch improves to 11-5 with his 7th submission win.

The card’s co-main event see Spokane’s Ryan Mulivill hand University of Great Falls wrestler Myles Mazurkiewiz his first pro loss. Mazurkiewiz tried for a guillotine as Mulivill shot in for a takedown. Mulivill used it to take the back and was able to pin Mazurkiewiz’s arm with a leg to sink and the rear naked choke. Mazurkiewiz passed out and the ref stopped the fight at 1:05 of round 1.

Sean O’Malley successfully defended his amateur bantamweight title by once again getting a TKO win over Ryan Ibsen. The fight started fast as Ibsen trying leg kicks, but O’Malley hit a right to the jaw that stunned Ibsen. From there, O’Malley started to land a barrage of punches and attempted a “showtime kick”. After another flurry, Ibsen crumbled and the ref stopped it at 30 seconds for round 1. Video can be found at the ICF facebook page.